The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is to open a new state-of-the-art teaching and research facility in Parramatta in the second half of 2026, marking the first expansion in its 110-year history.

Sydney Conservatorium students, Peter Atzemis, Max Mollica, Bea Chaston and Imogen Hamer, performing in Parramatta Square. Photo © Fiona Wolf/University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is investing $30 million in the project, which will focus on 21st-century music technologies and contemporary music education. The facility will serve Bachelor of Music students specialising in digital production, songwriting and composition for creative industries, with capacity for up to 180 students by its fourth year.

The project includes a $2 million strategic grant from Sound NSW and forms part of the NSW Government’s Contemporary Music Strategy. A new 60-seat performance auditorium equipped with a Meyer Constellation immersive audio system will host concerts and community events, while a Dolby Atmos recording studio and practice rooms will be available for public use outside teaching hours.

Dean of the Conservatorium, Professor Anna Reid, said the expansion would train “the next generation of contemporary music artists using cutting-edge facilities and a curriculum that reflects the realities...